It was fully dark now. Ruth lay on the sand, shivering a little, more from fear than from cold, although no one had given her any covering. The others, she hoped, would by now have got the equipment they needed and be on their way to the other island. They would be safe there, as long as she did not reveal the secret of the cave. She hadn't yet.
She remembered the other Ruth's dream, of being captured and forced to betray her friends. It was strange, this connection that meant each received dreams about the other's future or present. She wondered if she would dream any more about the other Ruth and her friends- it might tell her if they had managed to escape. She hoped that Ruth had no more dreams about her. They would not be pleasant. Now, despite great weariness, she couldn't sleep. She lay restlessly, wondering whether the others had made it. The forest was quiet now, even the noise of the Creature had died away. But that only made Ruth more nervous, wondering where it had gone.
She was roused by the sound of someone approaching. Looking up she saw the shape of someone coming towards her, the moonlight glinting off a sharp blade. She flinched backwards, but was helpless to move because of her bonds. Death in the dark? Well, perhaps it was for the best.
But as the figure grew closer she could see that it was moving stealthily, as if it didn't want to be seen. As soon as it was within speaking distance it said, in Adam's voice; "Don't make any noise. I'm not going to hurt you."
She huddled silently on the sand as he came nearer and cut the ropes binding her with a knife. "What they're doing- it isn't right. They were talking about killing you," he said. "I'm not going to be a party to murder."
She looked at him dubiously. He had been kind to her earlier, but she still wasn't sure. How could she know who to trust here when everyone looked like friends but weren't?
"Isn't someone on guard?" she asked.
"It's supposed to be me," he said.
"How do I know this isn't a trap?" she whispered. He shrugged.
"What have you got to loose?" he replied.
He was right. But what about the others? Were they safely through by now? What if they weren't? But...she was too scared to stay any longer. That was the truth. She couldn't stand it any more.
She stood up slowly. Then she turned and looked at him. "What about you? They'll know it was you who helped me escape, and they won't be happy."
"I know...could I come with you?" he said hesitantly. "Would the others let me join them?"
"I'm sure they would," she said. "Let's go."
It was hard to see where they were going in the dark, and they made rather more noise than Ruth would have liked. And once they were away from the camp another fear came upon her- she heard once more the cry of the Creature. Not very close, but close enough to remind her that the humans were not the only danger on the island.
She tripped and almost fell. As she struggled to regain her balance she heard a shout behind her.
"They've noticed we're gone!" Adam said.
"Keep going!" she said. They ploughed onward, but Ruth was now disorientated. At least last time she was chased it had been light. Now she didn't know where she was going- she was no longer running to anywhere, just away from their pursuers.
Although they had set off into the forest, she realised that they were coming down to the seashore again. She could hear shouts getting closer behind them. The shouting was spreading out, cutting off any chance of escape. She swerved away, not realising that they were being driven away from the forest and up to the part of the island where the land was bare of trees and the cliffs fell steeply down to the sea.
The sun rose above the horizon. Ruth, shielding her eyes against the brightness, looked up and saw a figure, standing directly in front of them, one arm raised towards Ruth and Adam. It was Kath, and in her raised hand was the gun. Ruth slowed and looked over her shoulder. The others were close behind them- there was no way out.
Ruth stopped. Adam was close behind her. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"Thanks for trying, anyway," she said, trying to stay calm and to catch her breath.
Then she looked at Kath.
"Do it, then," she said, and turned and ran.
She didn't get far before they caught her, but Kath didn't fire. She was dragged back to where Adam was surrounded by the others, Kath still threatening him with the gun.
"You tried to release her and run away?" she questioned him. "Why?"
"You were going to kill her," he said. "I'm not committing murder. She's not hurt you."
"She won't help us. If she doesn't tell us how she got here we'll never get off this island."
"You don't know that," Ruth said. "And you don't know whether I could get you off this island anyway."
"Shut up," Emma said. "Unless you're going to help us?" Ruth was silent. Kath kicked Adam and he bent double in pain. Emma gave him a push and he staggered backwards. The others laughed and joined in, pushing him one way and another, closing in and forcing him backwards.
"Leave him alone- let him go!" Ruth protested, struggling against Ernest, who was holding her still. But no one listened.
They continued to drive him backwards, closer to the edge of the cliff. Later, Ruth wondered if they had even realised what they were doing, realised the danger. Another shove, another faltering step backwards, a scream- and Adam fell.
The story continues...
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